THE JESUS CHURCH
Acts 11:19-26
My brother and sisters in this group of series involving the church, we’ve noticed that many had tried to overthrow it, but they were not successful in doing so. They’ve slandered its name, crucified its Savior, and killed those that were called believers. But through it all, the Christian Church stood strong and continued as a catalytic to change the lives of those who wanted their lives to be changed even to this day. Gamaliel suspected this in the 5th chapter of Acts when the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin and enraged the council by their courage and steadfastness, the council angrily sought to kill them. But they were stopped by Gamaliel, who, after directing the apostles to withdraw, said and I paraphrase “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do with these men. Theudas appeared claiming to be somebody and had 400 men with him, but he was killed and his band disbursed. After him, came Judas the Galilean. He appeared during the time of the census and revolted, but he too was killed and his followers were scattered. Then he said “I advise you to leave them alone, for if this plan or action should be of men, it will fail. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:34-39)
In this text we see Gamaliel statement standing true, the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ was still intact and gaining momentum. We find those who were scattered because of the persecution of Stephen, and their fears, being found in a strange land. But the persecution of Stephen and their fears were not enough to stop the mission of the Church of Christ, they continued to preach and teach Christ in the cities where they were.
In our last lesson we witnessed Peter standing before an argumentative group of brethren. They were upset because Peter went into the land of the un circumcised and as they saw it, he ate food prepared by those who were considered unclean. But through further investigation, that really was not their problem. You see the Jews had an opinion about the Gentiles or the un-circumcised. They saw them as unclean, and as person that was outside of the promises of God. But to be truthful about their concern for Peter eating with the Gentiles, their real problem was that Peter had baptized them before they were circumcised. So Peter had to let them know that he was not acting on his own, but, he was on a mission from God, thus introducing the gospel to a Gentile named Cornelius and his household, and the results were astounding, because they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues just like the Jews did on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. After hearing Peter expound on what his mission was and the involvement that the Lord had in it, verse 18 said they held their peace, and glorified God.
In this lesson it turns our attention to those who were scattered abroad, and later in the lesson, there will be added a tag team of preachers by the names of Barnabas and Saul. It will also show us that the birth of the Antioch Church was not started because of the mainlined disciples, but it was birthed through lay-disciples who fled Jerusalem because of hostile situations leading the way. These lay-disciples were being led by the Holy Spirit. They gained holy boldness to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone that would listen.
So, together let’s visit this text to see how the pulpit and the layperson together can share responsibility in forwarding the mission of The Jesus Church.
First of all in order to further the mission of the Jesus Church . . .
1. EVERYONE HAS TO GET INVOLVED (Vv.19, 20)
“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians preaching the Lord Jesus.
Many uneducated church members believe that it is the clergy’s job to go out and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. They feel this way simply because, it is their opinion that the clergy is trained to do such things and they are not. But if you think about it, it is the clergy’s job to prepare them with the gospel, then they are to go out into all the worlds spreading the good new of Jesus. But the problem this ministry has as well as others are that there is a shortage of people who care to be trained for the mission of outreach. We have a lot of hearers and no doers. This was not the case with those that left Jerusalem. Many of them were followers of Jesus, but while many fled Jerusalem, the Apostles remained in Jerusalem, as found in Acts 8:1. As for those who did leave, they did not go into the Judea and Samaria to just sit on their hands, but they went throughout the region preaching Christ. And now in this 11th chapter of Acts those that left Jerusalem are found being committed to spreading and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The point I would like to make is that although the Apostles were particularly trained by Jesus, and was told by Jesus that He would make them fishers of men, it is found in this instance that the lay-disciples who are found doing the fishing in the strange waters of Phenice [fih NIGH sih] and Cyprus. Although later in the lesson Barnabas and Saul will join them, the lay-disciples spearheaded this gospel outreach.
So we must understand that it is not only the preachers job to bring them in, but it is a concerted effort of everyone in the Church.
The second thing that we must do to build the Jesus Church is . . .
2. TO ALLOW THE HAND OF THE LORD TO LEAD (V.21)
“And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.”
One thing that we have to learn is to allow the church to be led by the hand of the Lord. The church, much like a child needs guidance. I’m sure that some of you feel that the pastor, deacons and trustees have that responsibility, and you are right. But, you must realize that if it was not for the hand of the Lord being on us, the doors would have been closed a long time ago. That is why leaders should be Holy Ghost filled. Look at the text, two things happened because the powerful hand of the Lord. First, a great number believed. Secondly, they that believed turn to the Lord. We must understand that when the Lord’s hand is upon the church and its leaders, great things happen. People are then converted into a new way of living. We must learn to get ourselves out of the way, and let the hand of the Lord lead us. For example, Lexus in its newer model has what they call the “auto park” feature. What it does is that the car can park itself without your help. Now this technology has been in Japan close to five years now and it is in some of their economy cars, but now it has come to America in the luxury class. The object is to pull up to the desired space, make sure that the space is large enough for the car. Put your foot on the brake and put it in reverse, then take your hands off the wheel and your foot off the brake because it would deactivate the process. Then let the car do the rest and that is to park itself. But remember the person is not suppose to help it, it will do it on its own. Likewise we have to get out of the way of the Lord. We need His hands to be activated so that He can guide us to do His will in the church.
The final thing we must do to build the Jesus Church is that . . .
3. THERE MUST BE EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS TEACHING IN THE CHURCH. (Vv.25, 26)
“Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciple were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Another thing that can build the ministry of the Jesus Church is, that there must be evidence of teaching in the church. Many times we find scholars in Sunday School and bible study. But the sad part of that is that only a core group of people attend. I’ve been part of a ministry that was tough on leaders that did not attend bible study or Sunday School. Our pastor felt that if you did not study with the church, you could not lead the church. There were even members of the church that felt that if you did not attend study as instructed, they didn’t want to hear you preach nor were you respected in the office you held. I tell you there are some people that take studying God’s word seriously.
Look what happens in this lesson, going back up to verse 22. The good news traveled back to the church in Jerusalem. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch. What Barnabas saw when he arrived was the grace of God moving and it made him glad. In fact he inspired them all that they should cleave unto the Lord with a purpose of heart, and from his exhorting the people many people were added unto the Lord. Let’s pause right here for a moment. Verse 24 said that “much people were added to the Lord.” We must understand that when the people are inspired to be true to the Lord, the numbers of the church will grow. But most importantly they will be committed unto the Lord and His church. For too long we through our choirs, our social ministries and attractive sanctuaries, has been the inspiration for many to join the church, and I will be the first to say that these things are important. But what makes people committed, what makes them hungry for the word, and what makes them sacrifice their time to the church, is when they are inspired to remain true to the Lord. That is why many struggle in their commitment to the Lord and the church. Because they were inspired by the aforementioned and are not inspired to cleave to or be true to the Lord. So, Barnabas inspired them to cleave unto the Lord. But he also knew that he needed so help. So, he sought Saul to assist him in the teaching. Once he found him and brought him back to Antioch, they assembled themselves with the church and taught the people for a year. And they had such a impact, that the outsiders started calling them Christians, which the “ian” means “belonging to the party of”; thus “Christians” were those of Jesus’ party.
CONCLUSION
Well it is time to go now, but I want you to know that I’m glad about the day that I was introduced to Jesus. In other word as the song says “Somebody prayed for me. Had me on their mind took the time to pray for me. I’m so glad they prayed, I’m so glad they prayed, I’m so glad they prayed for me.”
